What is the answer?

Question

Player A led a baseball league in runs batted in for the 2006 regular season. Player B, who came in second to player A, had 16 fever runs batted in for the 2006 regular season. Together, these 2 players brought home 244 runs during the 2006 regular season. How many runs batted in did player A and player B each account for?

Answer 1

Let x = number of runs by player A

Let y = number of runs by player B

 

Both players together hit 244 runs.  Therefore, we know that:

 

x + y = 244

 

Player B had 16 less runs than Player A.  Therefore,

 

y = x - 16

 

Substitute y into the first equation:

 

x + (x - 16) = 244

 

Combine like terms:

 

2x - 16 = 244

 

Add 16 to both sides:

 

2x = 260

 

x = 130

 

Therefore, Player A had 130 runs and Player B had 130 - 16 = 114 runs.  A quick check that 130 + 114 = 244.  It is.  We're done! :)